It wasn’t supposed to happen. UConn is on probation. Legendary coach Jim Calhoun stepped down a month before the start of the season. Interim coach Kevin Ollie had never been a head coach, heck had spent only two years as an assistant. Four regulars bolted the program for the NBA or other programs.

Yet, here the Huskies (17-6, 7-4 Big East) stand, game out of first place after upsetting No. 6 Syracuse on Wednesday night.

"They got to leave (the Big East) with a taste of UConn in their mouth going to the ACC," UConn freshman Omar Calhoun told reporters after the game.

Georgetown, Marquette and Syracuse all have three Big East losses. Pitt, Notre Dame, Louisville and UConn all are a game back with four losses. So why not UConn?

“It would mean everything, considering that they tried to take everything from us," Huskies sophomore guard Ryan Boatright said. “It’s realistic because anybody can lose in the Big East. We feel like we’re supposed to be here."

The Huskies, because of prolonged academic shortcomings in Calhoun’s latter years, are banned from postseason play. That means no NCAA Tournament, and heck, no Big East Tournament.

The only thing UConn has to play for is the Big East regular-season title.

“We’re just one of the purest teams playing right now," Ollie told ESPN. “We’re not playing for the postseason. We’re playing for the love of UConn. We’re playing for the love of each other. We’re playing for the pride of getting better. They can’t ban us from that. They can ban us from the postseason, they can ban us from the Big East tournament, but they can’t ban us from getting better and loving each other. They really love being around each other, and it shows."

And this is an accomplished team. The Huskies own wins over No. 8 Michigan State, No. 21 Notre Dame and now No. 6 Syracuse. Their losses are to No. 19 New Mexico, N.C. State, No. 18 Marquette, No. 12 Louisville, No. 16 Pitt and a then red-hot St. John’s club on the road.